The Dark Side of Festivals

I know its the eve of Diwali and the Festival of Lights and everything should be sparkling and nice, but there is a darkness in my heart that I must admit is nagging my festive spirit and drive.

Do you know that our country has many who live with an income of below, one dollar a day.....that is less than what you might spend on cigarettes, treats, mints, parking and tips etc in a day and these people have to survive and provide for themselves with this in a day. It makes me shudder to think of how tough life must be for them, so while the haves are splurging these millions are looking for a means to survive. I wish that we think of them when in a festive mood ( read ready to spend on festivities) and try and adpt some souls.Charity begins at home, maybe we can adopt the children of the people who work in our houses and enlighten them through education so that they come out of the dollar a day existence.

The crass commercialisation of the festivals also upsets me no end. Remember the time we weighed the love of aunts in the family basis the goodies they made for us and not by the size and value of the gift pack they brought for us? Today, I see all around ( mostly) people wanting to woo the 'useful lot 'of relatives and friends through expensive gifts while the not so useful are given the hand me downs no one wants. Is that whta expressing your love is reduced to during festivals? Think about it

The other aspect of Diwali is the crackers - they are no good from the start. They employ poor minors who get to live a short life thanks to the affect the masala has on their lungs and the crammed working conditions. Would you want to revel with such crackers and participate in the dance of death? Crackers cause air pollutions that affect all of us in some way, and god help the asthamatics who feel it is better to die than live through another smoke filled diwali, but people just seem to ignore it. Anyone who has an asthamatic family memeber will or neighbour undrestand what one can go through. Then ofcourse the noise pollution and the penchant for being the last one to finish the bang......I have seen, sorry heard, the crackers bang till 3:30 am - with no regard to the people's sleep and comfort.

So please please do something about it, change the way you celebrate your festivals and think of the poor, the children and the environment for a happier tomorrow.